Abstract
The stability and infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in liquid samples are of great concern to virus transmission via common beverages and sewage water. Here, we investigated the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in 32 liquids including common beverages, bodily fluids, and commonly used viral transport media. Our results showed that the infectious virus could be recovered up to 77-days from common beverages including milk and water. Viral RNA could be detected at high levels in all samples up to 28-days, indicating that while viral RNA demonstrates higher stability than infectivity, viral RNA levels do not reflect the infectious capability of SARS-CoV-2. These results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 is highly stable in optimal conditions and a sufficient control measure is needed in reducing the risk of exposure and controlling and preventing future outbreaks.
Highlights
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA has been detected in surfaces and environment and surfaces due to contact with carrier (Kampf et al, 2020; van Doremalen et al, 2020)
Infectious virus and viral RNA were detected by plaque assay and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively
While there has been little evidence of the isolation of SARS-CoV-2 from sewage water, infectious virus was detected in spiked tap water and bodily fluids up to 2-months after incubation in which their half-life values were between 4.0 and 52.7 days (Table 3), indicating prolonged virus stability in drinking water and possibly wastewater
Summary
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA has been detected in surfaces and environment and surfaces due to contact with carrier (Kampf et al, 2020; van Doremalen et al, 2020). There was a limited reduction in infectious SARS-CoV-2 held at 4◦C for up to 14 days (Chin et al, 2020) In this context, SARS-CoV-2 remained infectious for 3 weeks in spiked pieces of refrigerated chicken, pork, and salmon (Fisher et al, 2020). There have been limited studies on viral infectivity in common beverages and bodily fluids In this context, the evaluation of virus stability together with infectivity in commonly available beverages are of high importance to the risk assessment of outbreak control and prevention. The infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in 32 commercial beverage and bodily fluids was quantitated by using RT-PCR and a conventional plaque assay by cell culture; tested for infectivity up to 77 days after incubation, the aim was to evaluate the stability and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in liquid suspension
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